The Inhabitants of the Aquarium 243 



only a short front lobe and a very small tail 

 lobe free. The front lobe serves to partly 

 close the shell when the animal retires within. 

 The plastron, as well as the lower side of 

 the carapace, and the under side of the legs, 

 are of a light flesh color, mottled with gray 

 along the margin. Darker places show the 

 presence of soft cartilaginous plates under- 

 neath the skin, which is so thin and tender 

 that the slightest scratch will draw blood. 

 The head is of a very peculiar shape, end- 

 ing in a long, pointed and flexible proboscis, 

 with the nostrils placed just as on the head 

 of a pig. The eyes are placed at a consid- 

 erable distance from the point of the head 

 and show a clear yellow iris. They are also 

 rather large and more intelligent in expres- 

 sion than those of other turtles. Head and 

 neck are of the same color as the carapace 

 and are marked with a yellow line bordered 

 with gray on the sides, and with irregular 

 dark spots and blotches above and below. 

 A yellow line extends from each eye to- 



